P-H-M volunteers now completing checks

Policy applies to current and new volunteers.

Policy applies to current and new volunteers.

February 05, 2008|YaSHEKIA SMALLS Tribune Staff Writer

MISHAWAKA -- Volunteers in the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp. are now required to undergo background checks. The board of school trustees last week adopted a new policy that requires limited criminal history checks through the Indiana State Police on all volunteers who are in regular direct contact with students. This includes volunteer coaches and volunteers who travel on trips with students -- whether they are supervised or unsupervised. The change went into effect last week, P-H-M spokeswoman Teresa Carroll said Monday. A designated staff person at each school will run the background check on each individual, and both current and new volunteers are required to undergo the check, Carroll said. "We have hundreds and hundreds of volunteers," she said. "It's a big undertaking because we have a lot of people who are involved in our schools." The issue was first raised late last fall, when board members expressed concern with the lack of a policy regarding volunteers and the specific language in subsequent proposals made by the administration. Volunteer checks in the past were optional at principals' requests, officials said, although employees were required to undergo a limited check. Employee hires now are undergoing a more extensive check through Safe Hiring Solutions in Danville, Ind., after an agreement entered into last fall. The volunteer checks now require 19 certified staff members -- compared with the previous four -- who can access the limited check, costing the district about $100 a year, Carroll said. "I don't see any harm in it -- anything to protect the kids," said Kim Bennett of Bittersweet Elementary School's Parent Teacher Organization. "But on the same token ... I just don't want that to deter volunteers either." The school district last week also welcomed Henry Lohmeyer, who replaces Pam Skoglund as P-H-M's director of transportation through TransPar, with Skoglund taking another job position in Valparaiso. In addition, the corporation is researching various ways to provide instant messages to parents and staff, which would have been useful more than a week ago when about eight buses failed to start in subzero temperatures, Carroll said. But the devices are very costly, she said. A circuit blew overnight, and the heating elements used to keep engine oil warm didn't work for some of the buses. Buses that were in operation ended up picking up children who were not on their routes, Carroll said, although some children stood outside in the cold longer than usual.Staff writer YaShekia Smalls: yassmalls@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6555